Dictionary

jacklight en · NOUN

Etymology

* jack + light. Probably from jack (“a male servant of any rank”), later associated with a boy servant or any boy, and later still with a knave: a rogue, thief, or deceitful man. * Possibly also related to Spanish jaque (“a bully”).

Meanings

1. (Canada, US) A spotlight or lamp mounted on a car, boat or pole, etc. to aid in hunting.
   • It was a long, low roadster, with a jacklight. 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Library of America, published 1985, page 19:

Forms

Deriveds

jacker

jacklight en · VERB

Etymology

* jack + light. Probably from jack (“a male servant of any rank”), later associated with a boy servant or any boy, and later still with a knave: a rogue, thief, or deceitful man. * Possibly also related to Spanish jaque (“a bully”).

Meanings

1. (Canada, US) To shine a jacklight or spotlight on an animal, usually a deer, to aid in hunting at night.

Forms

Relateds

jack-hunting

Synonyms

lamp · spotlight